Copy Cats (album)

Copy Cats
Studio album by Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin
Released	1988
Recorded	May–December 1987, Falconer Studios, London; track 6 1984, Olympic Studios, London
Label	Jungle Records
Producer	Patti Palladin
Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin chronology
Que Sera Sera (1985) Copy Cats (1988)

Copy Cats is an album by the American musicians Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin.[1][2] It is a set of rock and roll oldies, originally recorded from 1954 to 1969. It was named after being a set of cover versions and as the title of a Gary U.S. Bonds song, "Copycat", which was recorded for the album but not released. Thunders was inspired by John Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Chicago Tribune	[5]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album "could have been tossed off as a lark, but the music—which ranges from swamp-rock to girl-group stylings to a mambo/R&B hybrid—emerges crisp, polished and generally enjoyable."[5] The Los Angeles Times stated that it "features punchy cover versions of mostly obscure R&B oldies, with Thunders using his thin, nasal voice to humorous effect with theatrical mannerisms."[6]

Track listing

The tracks were called "scenes"

Side one – "Act one"

1. "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" (Sky Saxon) original version by The Seeds, 1965
2. "Baby It's You" (Mack David, Barney Williams, Burt Bacharach) original version by The Shirelles, 1961
3. "She Wants To Mambo" (Maxwell Davis, Gene Ford) original version by The Chanters, 1954
4. "Treat Her Right" (Roy Head) original version by Roy Head and the Traits, 1965
5. "Uptown To Harlem" (Betty Mabry) original version by The Chambers Brothers, 1967
6. "Crawfish" (Fred Wise, Ben Weisman) original version by Kitty White and Elvis Presley from the film King Creole, 1958

Side two – "Act two"

1. "Alligator Wine" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) original version by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, 1958
2. "Two Time Loser" (Alden Bunn, Anna Sandford) original version by Tarheel Slim and Little Ann, 1963
3. "Love Is Strange" (Ethel Cookie Smith, Mac Houston Baker) original version by Mickey & Sylvia, 1956
4. "I Was Born To Cry" (Dion DiMucci) original version by Dion, 1962
5. "He Cried" (Greg Richards, Ted Daryll) original version as "She Cried" by Jay and the Americans, 1962
6. "Let Me Entertain You (Parts 1 and 2)" (Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim) original version from the musical Gypsy, 1959

Personnel

• Johnny Thunders – guitar, vocals
• Patti Palladin – vocals
• John Perry – guitar, synth strings
• Robbie A. Gordon – guitar
• Jimi Haynes – guitar
• Henri Padovani – guitar
• Billy Rath – bass
• Jerry Nolan – drums
• Steve Washington – drums
• Chris Taylor – bass, drums
• Barry Andrews – organ, piano
• Pedro Ortiz – tambourines, maracas, percussion
• Jim Dvorak – trumpet
• Nick Evans – tambourine
• John "Irish" Earle – saxophones
• Alex Bǎlǎnescu – violins
• Maribel La Manchega – castanets
• Chrissie Hynde – backing vocals
• Jayne County – backing vocals
• Blair Booth – backing vocals
• Simon Humphries – backing vocals
• Paul Long – backing vocals
• Judd Lander – harmonica
• Anthony Thistlethwaite – harmonica

Technical

• Keith Hancock, Ken Thomas (on scene 6) – engineer
• Leee Black Childers – cover photography

References

1. Goldstein, Patrick (5 Feb 1989). "Hot Copy". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 74.
2. Gallo, Phil (April 21, 1989). "Etheridge sings of lost love; Thunders rocks on". Weekend Guide. New Haven Register. p. 34.
3. MacInnis, Craig (June 30, 1989). "Johnny Thunders back in New York state of mind". Toronto Star. p. E14.
4. Deming, Mark. "Copy Cats". AllMusic. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
5. Popson, Tom (10 Feb 1989). "Red Flag wows clubs, Johnny Thunders heads for covers". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. H.
6. Boehm, Mike (14 Oct 1989). "Thunders Tries to Erase Drug-Clouded Memories". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.